After weeks of campaigning, the PNM and UNC scored clear victories in two local government by-elections on June 17, which saw a higher voter turnout in the districts compared to the 2023 polls.
The PNM had a clear victory in Lengua/Indian Walk with its candidate Autly Granthume defeating the UNC’s candidate Nicole Gopaul 2,083 to 1,336 votes.
There was no official information on the number of votes received by Peterson Morales, who contested this by-election as an independent candidate. Sources claimed that Morales only received one vote.
In Quinam/Morne Diablo, the UNC’s Sara Sookdeo prevailed over the PNM’s Anderson Nanan, 2,239 to 971 votes. The total number of eligible voters for both by-elections is 16,834. Lengua/Indian Walk has 8,465 eligible voters and Quinam/Morne Diablo 8,369.
In terms of special electors, the EBC said there are 72 in Lengua/Indian Walk and 61 for Quinam/Morne Diablo, a total of 133. Special electors because of the nature of their jobs (such as members of the protective services) are unable to vote during the periods allotted for regular voters. Voting for special electors took place from June 12-14.
In Lengua/Indian Walk, the PNM officially declared victory in the district around 9.28 pm. Cheers of “Pastor Autly, Pastor Autly” filled the PNM camp in Indian Walk when Granthume was declared the winner.
Participating in the celebrations were Rural Development and Local Government Minister Faris Al-Rawi, former government minister Joan Yuille-Williams and former UNC Cumuto/Manzanilla MP Collin Partap who is now a PNM member.
Speaking afterwards to the media, Al-Rawi refused to be drawn into speculation that the UNC’s internal elections on June 15, hampered their ability to win Lengua/Indian Walk. “That’s their business. We don’t comment on their business. We focus on our business of representing the people. God bless them all.”
Granthume was overjoyed at his victory.
“I feel proud. I feel great. I feel magnificent. I’m just joyful in my heart because of this victory and I know it’s not because of my might nor my power but because of Almighty God and the entire team that has been around me rallying for the past eight, nine months.”
He especially thanked Al-Rawi, Trade and Industry Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon (who served as his campaign co-ordinator), other PNM MPs and senators and the residents of Lengua/Indian Walk for his victory.
“I am proud, proud of the PNM government who has found me fit to accept to serve in this capacity and certainly, I commit myself to represent them and to represent them proudly. Make them feel proud of all that I do and also to meet the needs of the residents and make them feel proud that they have chosen me to serve.” Granthume pledged to give the residents proper representation as their new councillor. Asked if there were any issues with voting earlier in the day, Granthume said, “Sometimes we take little things to make big things. So, in everything we do have hiccups at times.”
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